By Patriot Corps | November 8, 2024
- ‘I have instructed my lawyers to take swift legal action against Mr. Akol Anthony (MP Kilak North) for physically assaulting me like a wild animal on the floor of Parliament.’
Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zaake, has threatened to sue his Kilak North counterpart, Anthony Akol, for assaulting him on the floor of Parliament during a heated plenary session on Wednesday.
The altercation occurred amidst rising tensions over the controversial National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to dissolve the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and integrate it into the Ministry of Agriculture. As lawmakers gathered for the session, Zaake alleged that a man with a gun had entered the parliamentary chambers, prompting Speaker Anita Among to request a security check. The check revealed no weapon, but Zaake remained unconvinced and conducted his own search.
Shortly after, as the Speaker directed MPs to sit, Zaake reportedly found Akol occupying his seat. Zaake, upset that Akol had taken his place while he had stepped away to raise his concerns, confronted Akol by shoving him off the seat and sitting down. In retaliation, Akol allegedly punched Zaake multiple times, resulting in chaos in the chamber. The Speaker was forced to vacate her seat, and the session was suspended for 30 minutes.
Zaake was promptly rushed to Nsambya Hospital for treatment, where he received medical attention for injuries sustained in the attack. After being discharged, Zaake vowed to take legal action against Akol for the assault. “I have instructed my lawyers to take swift legal action against Mr. Akol for physically assaulting me like a wild animal on the floor of Parliament,” Zaake said on his X (formerly Twitter) platform.
Zaake’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago of Lukwago and Co. Advocates, has since written to Akol, notifying him of their intention to sue. The letter details the assault, which it describes as a “barbaric attack” that caused Zaake both physical and emotional harm. According to the letter, the violent act, which was witnessed by fellow MPs and captured on parliamentary footage, left Zaake with injuries requiring medical attention. It also cites the trauma Zaake has endured from previous incidents of torture.
The letter outlines two demands: Akol must either issue an unequivocal public apology on the floor of Parliament or make a substantial monetary settlement to compensate Zaake for his pain and suffering. Failure to comply will result in legal proceedings against Akol.
In response, Akol dismissed the threat of legal action, claiming he would prevail in court. “You started it before and lost. You have started it again, I can assure you that you will still lose. Lukwago is going to eat your money for nothing,” Akol posted on X. He further criticized Zaake’s political party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), calling its members “hooligans.”
The escalating war of words between the two MPs has sparked a fierce political debate, with tensions likely to rise as the legal battle unfolds.
